Cryptic crossword No 1,695
Mon 1 Apr 2024, set byMallimack
6
Special Instructions: "The Change". All acrosses must undergo a specific change: seven answers must be transformed before entry, and six clues must be transformed before solving. The change is consistent and always produces meaningful results. Enumeration refers to the answer as it should be entered. Downs have not undergone the change (their loss). All answers are in Collins. The completed grid will show one means by which the change can be effected, breaking heteronomy 25% pharmaceutically.
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Some very clever stuff here Mallimack. 8a gave me a strong pointer to "the change" required, which helped, and the device provided some amusing moments (eg 23a with H-H-H-Hera). Even so, it took me a while to get going (should have read the instructions better) but things speeded up once I got to the down clues! A few reveals needed to get me over the line, but faves were 8a, 23a, 27a, 1d, 3d, 17d, 25d. Spoliers ...
Sorry, Mallimack. I got nowhere with this. I don't tend to go for puzzles with this kind of SI: if I know there is something 'going on' with the WP so the clues can't actually be relied upon to mean what they say, I am all at sea. So I floundered from the off and turned to your annotations. Too clever for me so well done to those who managed to penetrate it. Thanks for the opportunity. PM
Belatedly popping in to say that I loved this to bits, even if it took me longer than it probably should have to pin down the change given my adjacency to it. It did make me wonder if the puzzle was potentially a day late - turns out that's just me projecting my own abysmal timekeeping onto your steadfast scheduling! Top three go to 20a (for the way its change worked), 17d (for the surface) & 25d (I can only echo Fez), but it was good fun all round. Thanks for sharing this puzzle with us!
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